by Amanda Kelly

 

Gary Hughes, President and Managing Broker of Aspen Sotheby’s International Realty, used philosophical ideals  and compassion to change the culture of a company. And he talks about philosophy so eloquently that one might unwittingly mistake him for a university professor or spiritual guru.  Maybe deep down he is, but on the surface, Hughes is a successful real estate industry veteran with more than 30 years experience representing master-planned projects and luxury home sales.

In 1984, Hughes moved to the United States from South Africa and began a career in real estate that same year. Three years ago, he came onboard at Sotheby’s with a plan to change the company’s instinctively competitive culture. Aspen is a highly  competitive marketplace with more than 800 brokers in the city  alone. “When I got here there was a kill or be killed attitude,” Hughes  said. “What I wanted to do was shape a philosophy of how we should work as a group. It took time but we’ve had an incredible three years.”

The thought influences at the forefront of Hughes’s company  culture ranges from timeworn thinkers like the Buddha and Aristotle  to modern-day savants like Tom Morris. “A great read for anyone running a company is Morris’ book, If Aristotle Ran General Motors,”  he says. “I’d highly recommend they read and instill it in their daily life.”

Beyond the walls of his offices, Hughes  describes an ordinary, yet nonetheless, fulfilling family life. Balancing his work life  with hobbies such as hiking and golf in addition to the occasional family vacation  is important to him. Hughes and his wife have two teenage boys and two older daughters—one who is still in college  and another who has since graduated and started a career in real estate.

Throughout their children’s lives, Hughes and his wife have made a concentrated effort  to expose them to countless volunteering opportunities in order to give back to the  community and instill lasting values. The  family volunteers once a month, cooking Saturday dinners at a local church.

“Volunteering is a huge part of why my children appreciate what they have,” he says. “They are able to see that there are other  people that need help and that the more they can give the more fulfilled they will be in life. You really want to have children that  understand and are smart enough to know that life doesn’t hand you anything.”

Professional Legacy Relies on One’s Relationships

Over time, Hughes says he has learned to appreciate how  much he can still learn from other people. “Once you’re out  of college, whether you’re working for a company or not, you’ve got so much more time to invest in yourself. To invest  in learning and philosophy and understanding how the world really works. I’ve learned so much from other people and I never stop learning. That part is just incredible.”

He often goes “into the trenches” to get to know his  employees—taking them to lunch and opening himself up to conversations  to determine not only what motivates them, but also what  makes them happy or unhappy.

“Leadership has to be grounded in a love for what you do and an appreciation  for all your coworkers. It has a trickle down effect,” he  says. “The whole concept is based on the ideal that everybody matters.  Goodness is so critical in  everything that we do that it is an investment that never fails. To sustain corporate excellence you must sustain these values.”

 

For more articles on legacy planning, click here to subscribe to Legacy Arts Magazine.

Gary Hughes is President and Managing Broker of Aspen Snowmass Sotheby’s International Realty—a full-service real estate firm providing integrated services to clients in the Aspen, Snowmass and Roaring Fork Valley. Hughes is the recipient of the 2005 American Resort Development Association Project of the Year Award and the Ritz-Carlton Residence Club, where he was awarded Top Sales Producer nationally. He lives in Aspen, Colorado with his wife and two teenage sons.

AspenSnowmass-Logo